Passengers board an early morning Amtrak Blue Water train on Wednesday from the Flint station headed west during it's 35th anniversary.

FLINT, Michigan — Bonnie Ramsdall had never ridden in a train before.

She is going to become real aquatinted with it. Ramsdall, of Bakersfield, Calif., is taking the train from Flint all the way to California.

The first leg of the trip is part of the Amtrak Blue Water train to Chicago, which was celebrating its 35th anniversary today.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said of her three-day trip to California. “I’m excited for all the scenery and people.”

Michigan communities along the Port Huron to Chicago route all had celebrations.

In Flint, radio station WKUF 94.3 broadcasted live on the train and dignitaries such as Lt. Gov. John Cherry took it to Lansing.

At 7:11 a.m., the train lumbered into the station right on time.

Everyone got on and a with a quick “All aboard!” the train was off.

It hasn’t been an easy 35 years, said Tim Hoeffner from the Michigan Department of Transportation, which allocates state dollars to Amtrak.

“Every year we say ‘how are we going to use the limited resources we have,’” he said. “It’s not been easy, but we have a commitment to offering this service.”

For Ramsdall, the ride was all about the experience.

She was looking forward to seeing parts of the country she missed when she flew out to see family in her native Goodrich.

Her route will take her through states such as Iowa, Colorado and Utah. She will end up in Sacramento, and then take another train ride to her home in Bakersfield.

And what will she do to occupy her time?

“I never have trouble occupying my time,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll just look out the window and say ‘oh, look at that!’”

Cherry said he takes the train to Chicago on occasion.

“I enjoy the train,” he said. “It’s a convenient way to travel. You don’t have all the security hassles and no extra charges for bags.”

Some people take the train by necessity.

Sarah Miller, 19, of Burton, has been taking the train two days a week to take classes at Michigan State University, where she is a sophomore majoring in English. She takes the train because she doesn’t have a car.

For $14, she buys a two-way ticket to Lansing and back.

“Sometimes it’s cheaper than driving,” she said.

Ryan Garza/The Flint JournalPassengers wait to board an Amtrak Blue Water train headed west on Wednesdat at the Flint station.